Verizon FiOS begins offering MSG in HD

Verizon has announced that its FiOS TV service will begin offering MSG channels in high definition as early as today.

Verizon, the parent company of FiOS, had been in a long and bitter dispute with Cablevision over the right to broadcast MSG and MSG+ in HD.

Cablevision spun off MSG into its own entity in February 2010, but the network still refused to allow Verizon to carry the HD feeds on fiber-optic cable television service.

Then in September, the Federal Communications Commission ruled in favor of Verizon, stating that MSG must allow the media giant to purchase the rights to broadcast the stations in HD. Cablevision requested a stay of the FCC ruling, however a three-judge panel denied that request on Wednesday, giving Verizon the green light to begin broadcasting the channels in high definition.

Kimberly Kerns, a spokeswoman for Cablevision, voiced the company’s disappointment with yesterday’s decision by the courts in a prepared statement.

“We are disappointed by the ruling and are exploring our options,” Kerns said. “We have raised serious concerns regarding the manipulation of federal law by Verizon and AT&T, the nation’s two largest phone companies. In a highly competitive market like New York, consumers are best served when video providers are allowed to compete, not just on price, but on product differentiation. Today’s decision only serves to discourage companies from investing in unique offerings, which in the end hurts both competition and consumers.”

Verizon said it will be adding both MSG HD and MSG+ HD to its channel lineup in phases over the next couple of days, starting today. The channel numbers will vary depending on location. MSG HD will be either 577, 578 or 579 for FiOS TV subscribers, while MSG+ HD will be found on either 579, 580 or 581.

The MSG network broadcasts all New York-area professional sports teams that play in Madison Square Garden – the New York Knicks and New York Rangers – as well as area teams including the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls.